The Glo-Valve Service Dodgers spotted the First Bank & Trust Rockies to a 6-0 lead but came back to end the game in a 6-6 tie Monday at Optimist Park.
Carter McLaughlin pitched four innings for Glo-Valve allowing three unearned runs and no hits. He stuck out 10 and walked two. Easton Willis surrendered two hits and two earned runs in two innings. He struck out four, walked three and hit one batter. Paxton Daniels started for First Bank & Trust and went three innings. He yielded five runs on five hits. He struck out four and walked four. Austin Hunt finished up for First Bank & Trust yielding one unearned run while striking out nine and walking two.
In the top of the first inning Hunt started things off for First Bank & Trust by striking out but hustling to first when the ball got by the catcher. He stole second and made it ‘home when Max Organ reached first on an error. Ethan Kirkham walked. Organ and Kirkham gave First Bank & Trust a 3-0 lead when Aydan Delgado’s grounder got by the defense.
First Bank & Trust went back to work in the top of the second. Brody Alexander and Daniels drew walks. Hunt singled and a Glo-Valve error allowed Alexander to score.
Daniels and Hunt both came home on a sharp single by Organ. First Bank & Trust led 6-0.
Glo-Valve finally got things going in the bottom of the third inning. Walks to Weston Jones, Waylon Huffman and Willis set up an infield single by Jace Ruiz to score Jones.
A walk to McLaughlin forced in another run. A ringing double by David Buendia cleared the bases and narrowed the score to 6-5 in First Bank & Trust’s favor after three innings.
McLaughlin shut out the visitors for the next three innings. In Glo-Valve’s half of the fifth inning, Hunt gave up one hit, a single to Willis. Willis stole two bases and slid home after a passed ball to knot the score at six. Glo-Valve had two base runners in the bottom of the sixth, courtesy of walks, who were left on second and third when Hunt retired the side via strikeouts. The outstanding defensive play of the game for First Bank & Trust was a caught stealing from Hunt to Jentry Stanhope at third. A throw from McLaughlin to Trip Clark at shortstop caught a First Bank & Trust runner trying to steal second for a defensive gem for Glo-Valve. Hagen Hudson grabbed a fly ball and beat the runner back to second base for an unassisted double play for another outstanding defensive play for Glo-Valve.
Glo-Valve will be back in Pampa Optimist 11-12 Cal Ripken league action at Optimist Park Thursday at 6:30 p.m. against the Flogistics Red Sox.
The Pampa Optimist Youth Club is a Pampa United Way agency.
